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Captain Robert Corbet RN (d.1810), The End.

DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY

DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY During the previous month things had gone badly for the English squadron. The Sirius, Magicienne, and the Nereide had been destroyed. [see WILLOUGHBY, NISBET JOSIAH], and the Iphigenia had been captured. [see CHADS, HENRY DUCIE] Corbet learned at the same time that two sail seen in the distance were the French frigates Astree and the Iphigenie (the former Iphigenia). He stood towards them; was joined by Commodore Rowley in the Boadicea frigate, together with the Otter and the Staunch; and the capture of the French ships appeared probable.

It was not till the morning of the 13th that the Africaine was close up with the French ships; they were then within two or three hours' sail of Port Louis,and the Boadicea was some five miles dead to leeward. Corbet, fearing they might escape opened fire on the Astree, [Editorial Note: But the aim was wild and ineffective and she inflicted no serious loss to the French.) which immediately returned it. [Their aim, however was deadly and effective.] In her second broadside a roundshot took off Corbet's right foot, and a splinter smashed his right thigh. He was carried below, and died a few hours afterwards.

But meantime the Africaine, overpowered by the two French ships, all her officers being killed or wounded, having sustained a total loss of 163 killed and wounded out of a complement of 295, and being dismasted and helpless, struck her flag. In the afternoon, when the Boadicea with the Otter and the Staunch) came up, the French fled, leaving their prize, which was recaptured without difficulty.

(JAMES, v. 176) GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE Volume 81 Admiralty Office - February 12 1811 This Gazette contains a Dispatch from Vice-Admiral Bertie, Commander-in-Chief of all vessels at the Cape of Good Hope, with inclosures from Commodore Rowley and Captain Gordon. The dispatch of Admiral Bertie, which is dated Africaine, Isle of Bourbon, October 13, refers to the late gallant but unfortunate attack on the Isle de Passe, the details of which have already been published.

The Admiral observes, that the momentary superiority obtained by the Enemy in consequence of that unfortunate event, had been promptly and decisively crushed by the zeal, skill and intrepidity of Captain Rowley, of the Boadicea, who, left alone, and unsupported but by the never failing energies and resources of his active and intelligent mind, in a few hours not only retook his Majesty's ships, Africaine and Ceylon, but captured also the largest frigate possessed by the Enemy in the Indian seas, and had thus restored the British naval pre-eminence in that quarter.

To the gallant Corbett of the Africaine, who's meritous eagerness to check the truimph of an exulting Enemy impelled him to an unequal conquest, in which he nobly fell, the Admiral pays a just tribute of praise. The capture of the Ceylon and Windham Indiamen by the Enemy is also noticed - the first dispatch from Captain Rowley which is dated St Paul's Road, September 21 notices as having been chased off the Isle of France.

The second dispatch relates that the Boadicea in company with the Otter, sloop and Staunch, gunbrig, sailed to attack the Astrea and Iphigenea frigates then in the offing and that being joined in the chase by the Africaine and that her, by her superior sailing closed with the Enemy and becoming unmanageable under the fire of both ships, was, after a gallant contest compelled to strike.

The Boadicea, being prevented by light and variable winds, from affording her the least assistance. The Africaine had 36 killed and 71 wounded including Captain Corbett among the former. (Editorial Note: Captain R Corbett, R.N., commander HMS Nereide, Cape (of Good Hope) Station, 1808-10. Killed in action October 1810 Mauritius while Captain of HMS Africaine.) It was suggested that the reason the Africaine fell to the enemy was because the men refused to fight, preferring to die rather than win Corbett a victory. However this was disproved by the evidence of the master's mate on the Africaine, Captain Jenkin Jones. Rumour also suggested that Corbett had been shot by his own men but this was also disproved along with the idea that unwilling to survive the loss of his ship he tore the bandages from his wounds and allowed himself to bleed to death. (Records of Corbett's Court-Martial and official letters can be seen at the Public Record Office.)